LP will do anything to stay in power: Tiangco

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) claimed the Liberal Party (LP) will do anything to stay in power to escape criminal liability from the unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

In a statement on Saturday, UNA secretary general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco pointed out that presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda himself has already hinted at a no-election scenario in 2016.

Tiangco was reacting to Lacierda's statement that the public should wait for President Benigno Aquino III to announce who he will endorse for the 2016 presidential elections "kung sakaling tutuloy ang 2016 elections."

"This shows total disrespect for the constitution. This shows that they will do anything to stay in power, sa takot nila sa criminal liability nila sa DAP at sa iba pang tinatago nila," Tiangco said.

Several acts and practices under the Aquino administration's DAP were recently declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC).

Lacierda, for his part, was quick to clarify on Friday that there will surely be elections in 2016.

"The President has neither decided on term extension or endorsing a candidate. In both instances, 2016 elections will push through," he said.

Lacierda also dismissed fears Aquino has become a "threat to democracy" when he expressed openness to amending the Constitution to address what he called as "judicial overreach."

He said the President is still in the process of consulting the public on the matter of Charter change, and will listen to the people's views on the proposal to lift term limits of public officials.

Meanwhile, the Palace is unfazed by the endorsement the uncles of Aquino gave to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is one of the so-called three kings of UNA, saying it is proof of the vibrancy in the Philippine democracy.